I have two goals in mind while writing this today.  The first is to say Happy Birthday Tammy.  I love you and hope you are having a good time.  And hopefully being refreshed also. 

My wife, Tammy, is out of town with some of the ladies from our church.  They go on a trip every year to get away and do whatever women do when they get away.  But today is her birthday and I wanted to let her know that I am thinking of her and also let her know and the world know how much I appreciate her.  I would not be here if not for her, especially her prayers.   And I mean that literally. 

Prayer is the second thing I want to touch on.  Do you pray?  How often?  Do you believe it actually does anything? 

Depending on the theological worldview a person holds, there are a lot of different beliefs about prayer.  For those who believe in the meticulous sovereignty of God prayer is actually only a means to somehow see ourselves as lined up with His will.  It can’t really bring about anything that God has not already brought about.  In this view does it really do anything?

In James 5:16 we are told that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man actually accomplishes a lot.  How does it accomplish anything if all is already decided?

It seems to me that prayer does actually get Gods attention and lets Him know we need or want something.  But if it is to bring something about it must be effectual.  What does that mean?  The dictionary definition in part says effectual means…capable of producing an intended effect; adequate.  So if this is the definition of effectual we must realize that what we ask of God has to be in line with His word and His will or it is not going to be either capable or adequate.  He will not do anything for us that is not lined up with His will. 

Prayer must also be fervent.  The definition of fervent is…

So prayer must also be for something that we really desire: desire with all our heart and spirit.  Something we want so much that we are willing to lay aside the things that take up so much of our time for.  How often do we just throw up empty words to heaven and then get mad or feel forsaken when God could not really tell whether we were serious or not? 

And prayer must come from a righteous man or woman.  And since none are righteous (Romans 3:10), this has to mean that the prayers that God can answer have to come from someone that has the righteousness of Christ applied to them.  Someone covered by the blood of Jesus. 

Therefore it looks like we can conclude that, if we are serving Jesus Christ, if we are one of His, if we are serious, zealous, and passionate about our needs, and if we ask for what is in line with God’s will, we actually have a voice in the Kingdom of God.    

Prayer is one of the most effective weapons we have in our arsenal against the unseen forces that are all around us.  Prayer is a weapon and its proper use is what makes us an effective soldier to be used by God in this battle to the death we are engaged in.  Hence the term, prayer warrior. 

I thank God that my wife, Tammy, is a prayer warrior.  She is in the midst of the fray daily.  The enemy has seen her effectiveness and I know this firsthand.  And if not for her, like I said in the beginning, I would not be here. 

I just want her to know that I am there, beside her, praying with and for her, no matter how tough the battle gets.

Why don’t we all band together in effectual fervent prayer.  And actually do something.

Happy Birthday, Sweet T.  I love you and

Love you all

Tags: Faith, Power, Prayer, Righteousness, Spiritual Warfare, Weapons, Zealous